Marble House

Marble House is a Beaux-Arts villa in Newport, United States, with white marble walls and neoclassical ornamentation throughout the building. The structure forms a U-shape with four levels and contains fifty rooms decorated with stucco, columns, and ornamental elements.

William K. Vanderbilt commissioned architect Richard Morris Hunt to build this summer residence between 1888 and 1892. The project marked a turning point for Newport and transformed the town from a place with wooden houses into a district of stone palaces.

The residence takes its name from the white marble covering the facade and visible throughout the interior spaces. The house follows the model of European noble estates and shows how wealthy American families of the era lived and spent their summer months.

The house can be explored at your own pace with an audio guide, and an elevator connects most areas. The best time to visit is during morning hours when fewer people walk through the rooms.

The construction required about 500,000 cubic feet (14,000 cubic meters) of marble from regional quarries. Around 36 staff members worked in the house, including butlers, maids, coachmen, and footmen who kept the estate running.

Location: Newport

Architects: Richard Morris Hunt

Architectural style: Beaux-Arts

Part of: Bellevue Avenue Historic District

GPS coordinates: 41.46196,-71.30562

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:40